The New Bedford Whaling Museum and the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office will open Bristol County: Incarcerated on Oct. 24. The exhibit traces the history of local incarceration from the 18th-century jail in Taunton to New Bedford’s Ash Street Jail. The Ash Street facility is the oldest continuously operating jail in the nation. Artifacts include the […]
Local food pantries need help building supplies as SNAP benefits change. Reggae on West Beach (ROWB) is organizing a food and baby item drive for area families in need. Businesses are asked to host donation boxes provided and maintained by ROWB. Boxes will be picked up monthly or sooner if full. The business with the […]
See the faces of 19th-century America in a new special exhibition opening Jan. 16, 2026. "Look Pleasant, Please: Early Portrait Photography in New Bedford," explores portrait photography in a growing and diverse coastal city. Images highlight the changing relationship between photographer and sitter in a complex urban economy. Featured works include one of the last […]
PACE Head Start is accepting applications for the September 2026 school year. The free program serves about 200 children ages 3 to 5 from income-eligible families in New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and Acushnet. Children receive early education programs intended to prepare them for kindergarten. Programming includes classroom learning, health services, parent education, family support, and […]
Proteanna: Susan Heideman is on view at the New Bedford Whaling Museum from May 29 through Nov. 1. The exhibition features large-scale mixed-media works by Heideman inspired by ocean life and imagined underwater forms. Combining watercolor, collage, and hand embroidery, the pieces create richly layered, textured compositions that blur the line between real and imagined […]
Synergies: Hybrid Art runs June 4 through Aug. 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and students. The juried exhibition features 19 artists working across multiple media. The work explores intersections of artistic disciplines, materials, and technologies. It highlights experimental approaches to form and expression. Jurors […]
Horizons for Homeless Children is seeking volunteers for its Playspace Program across Massachusetts. Horizons supports young children experiencing homelessness through early education, play, and family services. The organization operates trauma-informed Playspaces inside family shelters. Spaces include books, toys, crafts, and activities designed to help children feel safe and supported. Volunteers, known as Playspace Activity Leaders […]
Artists sought for Creative Catalysts exhibit through an online call for art. Registration deadline is July 31 at 10 a.m. The exhibition features visual art, literary arts, music, and multimedia work. The theme uses literature as a lens for new perspectives. Artist pairs select a work of literature to guide their process. GroundWork Gallery will […]
“Vanishing Ecologies: Speculative Futures” opens June 25 at the New Bedford Art Museum with a free reception from 5 to 8 p.m. The exhibit remains on view through Oct. 11. Through painting, sculpture, installation, and time-based media, artists explore climate change, extinction, technology, and imagined futures shaped by the Anthropocene. Several works examine the tension […]
Summer activities run daily at the New Bedford Whaling Museum from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Activities are free with museum admission. Mondays: Revolutionary Moments Commemorate America's 250th anniversary on alternating Mondays: June 29, July 13 and 27, and Aug. 10 and 24. Tuesdays: Lagoda Days Explore above and below deck aboard the Lagoda whaling […]
The community is invited to a free outdoor yoga series on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. from June 4 through Oct. 1 at Haskell Gardens on 777 Shawmut Ave. A certified instructor leads the class, which is suitable for all experience levels. Participants should bring a yoga mat, water, a towel, and optional yoga blocks. On-street […]
"You Might Be as Flawed as Me" is a solo exhibition of paintings by SouthCoast artist Mark Gleicher. The exhibition runs from July 9 to 30. An opening reception will be held Saturday, July 11, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Accidental Metamorphosis is on view from July 10 through Aug. 5 at the Dartmouth Cultural Center. The fourth annual juried exhibition features work by 15 artists from the South Coast and across the country. A variety of media highlights how social, political, cultural and personal experiences can shape perspectives and artistic expression. South Coast artists […]
DPAW's 8th Annual Unleash the PAWsibilities Youth Creative Contest is accepting submissions through Aug. 10. The contest is open to youth ages 5 to 16 in visual arts and creative writing. Participants may choose one of two themes: "Celebrating Creatures Great and Small in My Backyard and Beyond" or "What Makes Your Favorite Animal Special?" […]
“Sailors' Valentines: Maritime Art From the Heart” is on view through Nov. 8 at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Shell-covered keepsakes, known as sailors' valentines, have long been tied to maritime history. The exhibition traces the art form from its 19th-century origins to modern interpretations through historic pieces and contemporary works. Displays highlight the craftsmanship, […]
Registration closes Sunday, Aug. 9, for the eighth annual Wet Paint Padanaram paint-out. Artists of all skill levels are invited to paint Padanaram's harbor, coastline, and village scenery before returning to the Dartmouth Cultural Center for a public exhibition and sale. Awards will be presented to the top three artists. The $40 fee includes a […]
Love to show "your" art and talk about the meaning behind it? Would you like a chance to bring that on stage before a live audience? Then apply for The New Bedford Light's next Arts Illuminated on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at the Steeple Playhouse in New Bedford. It's a place where area artists and art […]
The Mattapoisett Free Public Library is collecting donations for a local food pantry through Aug. 30. For each nonperishable, unexpired food or household item donated, the library will waive $1 in overdue fines, up to the total amount owed. Donations may be dropped off at either circulation desk. Requested items include canned vegetables, fruit, soup, […]
Pet food donations continue through August at SurfSide New Bedford. Donations will support local pet food pantries, including P.A.C.E. Community Food Pantry.
Adriance Furnituremakers highlights work by local artisans in the Showroom Gallery. Each piece shows the maker’s style. Each one brings character to the space. John Magnan shifted to art after an early retirement from a technical career. The change led to studies at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Magnan later earned an MFA in […]
Mass 2-1-1 and Lyft have teamed up to offer Relief Rides, a limited free transportation program for eligible individuals without access to other local options. Rides are available for critical non-emergency needs such as food access, short-term work transportation, and medical or mental health appointments. The service is open to qualified residents in Fall River […]
A reminder that flu and COVID cases rise during this season. Vaccines help protect families and reduce severe illness. Residents can schedule appointments through state vaccination sites or local providers. Information is available at mass.gov/seasonal-vaccines.
The Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven will offer three weeks of summer camp programs for children ages 5 to 12 from July 20 through Aug. 7. Weekly sessions cost $300. Discounts and scholarships are available. Ecology Camp runs July 20 through 24 and focuses on exploration, service, and hands-on learning centered on caring for the […]
Gardeners in Dartmouth have a new reason to visit the stacks. Dartmouth Public Library will launch a free Seed Library on March 2 at both branches. Limited seed packets will be available to help residents get the growing season started. The program encourages gardening, sustainability, and local food production. Participants can take seeds, grow plants, […]
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